Testimonials

The most wonderful thing about making a quilt for a client is the collaboration. I’ve been honored that my clients so often feel the same way:

“My pops passed away unexpectedly on June 29, 2020. He was a dedicated servant to all, joining the Marine Corps right out of high school and serving in the Vietnam War. Once home, he enrolled in the police academy and became a Salinas Police officer. He served for 32 years, primarily as a detective. Within 24 hours of retiring from the police force, he was working for the City of Salinas, where he served as mayor for nearly 8 years. He had over 50 years of community service. I wasn’t sure what to do with the clothing items I was left with. I began to research ideas for quilts and Lori Mason Design popped up. There aren’t any words to put together to explain how beautiful and heart warming these beautiful pieces of art are. These are the most amazing pieces I have ever seen. Each one is unique in its very own special way, just like pops was when he wore these garments. We can see him, hear him, and just catch the sparkle in his eyes as he would spot us in the crowd while doing his thing! Each one of these quilts is incredibly beautiful! Thank you for sharing your gift with our family and allowing us to have that special vision of him every time we see our pillows and quilts! We love them Lori, and you have given us a piece of him to hold onto everyday.”

“As a therapist specializing in grief and loss, I have referred many clients to Lori over the years to have memorial quilts made, and all had a wonderful experience. When I lost my own spouse of 18 years unexpectedly at age 48, I did not hesitate to refer myself. For my 15-year old son and me, working with Lori on the quilts has been a meaningful part of our grief process – choosing the clothing and patterns, sharing some of Tom’s story, visiting her studio to see the quilts in process, and finally receiving the beautiful finished products and sharing photos with family and friends. I cannot recommend Lori, her work, and her kind and gentle spirit, highly enough.”

“My son loved quilts from an early age. So much, that I saved clothes throughout his life, planning to make a quilt as a high school graduation gift. No part of the plan included his death on February 2019 at age 16. Reaching out to Lori was riddled with sadness and wondering. Will this person get the story I want to create of my son? Lori exceeded any expectation I held. She openly listened to the stories of my son, asked questions and created a design that captured my son’s essence. The quilt speaks to my son’s beauty, kindness, creativity and gracious heart. As I have shared the quilt with others, the consistent comment received is how it feels like Ethan. I couldn’t agree more!”

“My father passed away from cancer on July 5, 2019. I was very close with my father, therefore this was of course a devastating experience for my family and me. We discovered Lori’s work online, and we were immediately drawn to her style and charisma. Working with Lori on a Memorial Quilt and Table Runner was nothing short of a dream – I stress the cooperative nature of this product as I was utterly stunned by how professional and caring Lori was throughout. Not only was the final product beautiful and of the highest caliber – Lori took the time to understand who my father was and made us feel like an integral part of the process. The finished products truly capture the essence of who my father was in life (Biker, Fisherman, Craft Beer Brewer, Traveler). My mother and I couldn’t be more pleased!!”

“Working with Lori was a wonderful experience on many levels. Her elegant design and careful craftsmanship would be enough to recommend her, but her skills go far beyond that. Lori has a keen sense of empathy; she listens not only for your words, but for the inner truth of things. She somehow manifested my parents’ story in a physical object that bears witness to their life and their legacy. Working with her on the memorial quilt was healing–it took my understanding and appreciation of my parents to a new level. She gracefully accommodated my wish to be part of the creative process, and it was easy to work with her with long distance.”

“Lori was so wonderful to work with! We discussed memories of my mom and things she enjoyed in her life which Lori was then able to incorporate into the design of the quilt. Not only did we receive a beautifully made quilt to cherish, but it brought great comfort and happiness to our family during such a difficult time. I would highly recommend Lori Mason to anyone looking for a way to memorialize a lost loved one.”

“When Tony died I knew that I wanted to do something special with his clothing. A friend suggested a quilt, and I began my research. Nothing seemed right – until I found Lori’s site. Her work is truly stunning. The quilts and pillows that she created for me are artistically beautiful works of art, yet still manage to capture the warmth and lighthearted spirit of my beloved husband and friend. They are now my treasured heirlooms.”

“The whole process of having this quilt made has been really helpful for me while grieving. I loved how Lori spent time getting to know me and my late husband, John, and that she gave me updates and asked me questions throughout. I feel that the quilt has been a collaboration between Lori, me, and John- it’s wonderful to feel his presence through it. I am blown away with how Lori has turned John’s painting into a new work of art that is beautiful and comforting to have around. She has a fantastic skill and imagination in how to make the fabrics work together, as well as in working sensitively with people.”

“Lori, we just opened the quilts today, and I’m going to tell you, none of us have stopped crying yet. They are the most incredible, beautiful quilts. My sister and I opened the box – I didn’t dare to do it by myself, and we were just in tears. I can’t say enough about how grateful I am for this beautiful work – it’s just bringing him to life. I’m so appreciative of having him right around me now, it’s really a wonderful gift. Thank you.”

“I’m so happy I picked Lori to make my family’s quilts. I found Lori’s website while looking for memorial quilts and I am so happy I did. She’s a very talented woman and feels the love in your loved one’s clothing. Lori stays in touch with you when she is making your quilts and sends little, in-process photos of the quilt, which made our day. I asked Lori to make nine quilts out of my husband’s clothes, and I also asked her to take the patches and embroidered name tags from his work shirts and somehow put them in the quilts. She did, and they turned out ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! Her work is flawless. She loves what she does, and we love our quilts.”

“Lori spent time talking with me about my son… who he was, his interests and passions. This is a difficult conversation when your only child has died, but Lori was empathetic and very sensitive to my grief. After collaborating on the design she sent a photo of the first piece of the quilt. Even having seen that small piece I was overwhelmed when I received the finished quilt. It is amazing! It is beautiful on both sides… the attention to detail (the tiny lion and elephant at the centre… perfect) and the aesthetic harmony of the whole is absolutely wonderful. Not surprisingly, a flood of tears was unleashed as I unfolded it. I want to thank Lori so very much for listening to me, for taking the time to get to know Colin, and for creating something so beautiful that evokes his passions so perfectly.”

“It takes an exceptional person to support a total stranger who has just lost a child. Lori Mason is that person. Her kindness and genuine caring as she guided me through the telling of my son’s story was remarkable. That process resulted in a set of quilts for my family that embody my son’s spirit and reflect our family relationships. Lori is an artist and these stunning works she fashioned will be treasured not just for the fond memories they evoke but for their beauty.”

“When I was clearing out my closet, I struggled as I had for over 20 years to let go of the last pieces of my former partner’s clothing that I still had worn from time to time – T-shirts from memorable events we shared, sweatshirts, bandanas, and a denim jacket. Then I remembered meeting Lori and seeing samples of her work. I contacted her and made an appointment. She was even more compassionate than I remembered, and created two of the most beautiful pillows, one for me and one for my partner’s mother. Mine will go with me to my grave. I can’t recommend her highly enough.”

“I just picked up the box from the package room and opened it up. The quilt is beautiful!!!!! I can’t believe every inch of fabric is from my dad’s clothing. His polos and handkerchiefs and shorts and jeans and plaid shirts and pants and ties. Love the edging and backing. The swirls of the stitching are pure genius. They evoke waves and wind and eddying pools of water—he loved to walk the beach and go crabbing too. This will look lovely in my mom’s home, and I think she’ll find it comforting. Thank you for capturing my dad’s spirit and life so perfectly.”

“I just happened to stumble across Lori’s website one day while I was researching what to do with my grandmother’s clothing after she passed away. I didn’t want to give up everything, but of course I couldn’t keep it all either… so a memorial quilt looked PERFECT! Her designs were phenomenal and eye catching. The quality of her work was evident at a quick glance as I was doing my research, so I decided to reach out. I’m SO glad I did! It’s actually hard to put into words how wonderful I feel about my grandmother’s memorial quilt now that it’s actually complete. Working with Lori to achieve the perfect quilt was a true pleasure. She was always super quick to respond and SUCH a sweet person to work with. She was able to take her creativity and a little info from me and create something that is truly invaluable. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Thanks, Lori!”

“I just received my quilt order today from Lori Mason. I could not be more happy with how the quilt looks and feels. I ordered a memory quilt to honor my father who passed last November after a long, and often brutal, battle with cancer. The quilt is also going to be a surprise gift for my mother, who has no idea I had a quilt made from my father’s shirts. My parents were married over 50 years! I cannot wait to see the look on her face when she opens this quilt. It is made from all of my father’s plaid and flannel shirts – the ones he wore over and over again – until they got that soft, comforting feeling that only worn flannel gets. Now that warmth and comfort can be felt in this quilt. When my family looks at or touches it we will be seeing and feeling our family member, my Papa. Lori was careful to contact me to ask and get details about my father soon after my inquiry to her about making a quilt. She did not only want to know about sizes, colors, and numbers of my father’s clothes, but she wanted to know about him. Later, while cleaning out drawers in a guest room, I found a work shirt with my father’s name patch. All I had to do was ask, and Lori incorporated the patch into the quilt! As my family works through the process of grieving my father, the journey of our healing will always and forever be tied to the work and talent of Lori Mason.”

“Oh the box arrived, and it’s beyond what I ever thought! So lovely and so Amanda! The quilt certainly tells a story – I can look at each design and remember points in time – all I see is her in each of those points in time. In so many ways this is better than a picture – the reflection is so personal to me of the memories I have of her as she smiled, laughed, cried, played and more. The way you were able to use all the shear fabric is amazing too. WOW. I just love love love this!”

“The joy I have felt in working with you to create this quilt I thought could not be matched, but the joyful anticipation I feel waiting to receive it can only be compared to my little grandchildren waiting for Santa! — I just opened the quilt and cannot begin to find the words to express my gratitude for your creation. Every bit of it is our mother including the beads! I could get lost in the design and remembering.”

“My dad was a bow tie kind of guy. I don’t think I ever saw him in a regular neck tie, and I definitely did not see any of his friends wearing bow ties. He was a bit of an iconoclast, a thinker-out-of-the box-er. After he died, one of the things I could not give away were his bow ties. I tried using them to tie back my hair, but they did not stay in place, so they sat in a drawer. Until. My sweet nephew suggested I look at Lori’s website and talk to her about making a quilt out of grandpa’s bow ties. On my next trip to Portland, I showed them to Lori. I don’t have a particularly good eye for design, so I left them with Lori, who seemed to be able to make magic with fabric. What I just received is remarkable. Originally I was going to frame it, but Lori said I should feel it and touch it first – how wise of her. I may spray some of dad’s cologne on it or use it as a challah cover or just rub it for luck like a buddha-belly. It is beautiful, carefully stitched with so much love. Currently it is in the middle of the kitchen table. And I know my dad is loving it.”

“My mother passed away and a year later we still didn’t know what to do with much of her clothing. We wanted to do something with it that would be meaningful to her memory. My sister was pregnant, and I started to think about the idea of creating a quilt for the new baby – the quilt would be made out of my mom’s favorite shirts and jackets. After visiting Lori’s website and watching her video, I reached out to her. Lori was so thoughtful and warm throughout the process of fabric, color, and design selection. She asked the right questions to gauge my family’s creative input, and worked on a very reasonable schedule. When we gave my sister the quilt (it was a surprise for her), it was such an emotional and healing moment. Thank you, Lori!”

“When I unwrapped our quilt from Lori, I still remember the sensation of relief and amazement. ‘This! This is exactly what we wanted!’ She nailed it. Lori took our sketches and made them come alive with the perfect combination of colors and design. My husband and I are so grateful that Lori was able to see our vision and bring it into being. Amina, our daughter and who this quilt was made for, stares at it all of the time. It is hanging prominently in her room and it’s obvious that she, too, can see the craftsmanship in this piece of art. Thank you Lori, for taking such care with this quilt that represents our journey of bringing our daughter into this world. This is our first family heirloom and it will be passed on for generations to come.”

“Lori Mason embodies an exceptional combination of intuition, master craftsmanship, and business acumen. One of our initial planning and designing conversations moved comfortably from how her personal experiences and sensations looking at the materials was influencing her design process, to the technical considerations best suited to the materials, and finally to clear, concise, and realistic pricing and timeline projections. Lori has a passion for and an understanding of fabric that enables her to make quilts that honor the deceased. I am delighted with the memorial quilt I commissioned. As an accomplished and sensitive artist, she was able to bring out the best qualities of my father’s shirts while capturing some of his best qualities in her design and workmanship. I recall feeling nervous to see the final result, but when we opened it, it took my breath away. It was better than I could have imagined.”

“I got to know about Lori Mason Design through a co-worker who had had a quilt made by Lori using her husband’s clothes. When I saw the finished product, I thought this is so beautiful and instantly thought about having one done for my 15 year old daughter who was going through the trauma of losing her dad. We got the courage and went through his clothes and shipped them off to Lori. Lori always kept me informed on the progress of Courtney’s quilt through e-mails, and I feel that we have become friends even though we have never met. When I received the quilt and I saw it for the first time it was more than I could have ever asked for and the workmanship was excellent.”

“Lori’s careful, considerate approach to designing Richard’s Quilt has produced a beautiful piece that I am proud to hang in the heart of our home. It makes me smile every time I look at it, because it reflects Richard’s wit and warmth, as well as our life in Bermuda.”

“I have known Lori for more than twelve years. Lori is very unique and has a special gift of bringing together her love of fabric and pattern with her artful eye. [She has] a respect for other people’s love and their relationships with friends and family. Clothing [is] one of the ways that help conjure memories or stories about other people. When my mother passed away, my sisters and I wanted to have something to always remind us of mom. It was a joy working with Lori and now seven pillows and memories of Shirley Lev warm seven houses.”

“When I saw your website I liked your sense of color and that you had experience with memory pieces, the sentiment of thread running through generations is meaningful to me and I wanted to impart that to my daughter and her husband. I gathered a sense of elegance and simplicity in your pieces that pleased me. I liked your style and that you listened to what I was aiming for and could work with what I was able to provide. Your studio had order and an industrial ambience that I liked and I thought your pieces were well constructed and you used materials that were heirloom quality. All those reasons led me to choose you. Elegant, simplicity, style.”